Is Steven Jobs who we thought he was?

The death of Steven Jobs brought home to me how complicated our world is and how important it is to keep looking for the truth. How important it is to think ...even when I don’t want to.

Jobs was one of the most respected men in the world. He was given away at birth by a Syrian couple. That simple fact, for a moment actually “paused” a virtual civil war in order for Syria to remember their native son.

His contribution to our way of life is already being trumped as “Edisonian.” The “apple” shadows the “light.”

Jobs’ refusal to dance to anyone else’s drum even when he missed a beat is held up as the way to live. The tributes have gone world-wide…viral.

But then I read this, “The New Republic: Steve Jobs, Jobs-Creator?” from National Public Radio). “His surname to the contrary, he did not create a lot of American jobs. During the 1930’s more than 100,000 people worked at Ford’s Detroit plant. That’s more than twice as many people as Apple today employees in the entire world. Would you like to guess how many U.S. based production workers Apple actually had building iPods in 2006, the year the total number of iPods sold jumped from 42 million to 88 million? The U.S. based production workers numbered 30. None of them actually worked for Apple. (They were all chip fabricators.)” Before thinking...I thought…Jobs was no different than most other CEOs of major companies; it’s just too expensive to make products in America for Americans that are spoiled on….good and cheap!

Then I read this. “What Everyone is Too Polite to Say About Steve Jobs”…an article in Gawker.com. “Jobs could be terrible to people, and his impact on the world was not uniformly positive. Rude, dismissive, hostile, spiteful: Apple employees--the ones not bound by confidentiality agreements--have had a different story to tell over the years about Jobs and the bullying, manipulation and fear that followed him around Apple.” When I read this I thought; so what? Don’t most geniuses have little time or patience with those mortal souls who only slow them down?

Then I read this. “Apple’s success has been built literally on the backs of Chinese workers, many of them children and all of them enduring long shifts and the specter of brutal penalties for mistakes.” That did it for me. I’ve spent a lifetime going ballistic every time I hear or see someone with less power being bullied, humiliated or injured. TIME TO WRITE A BLOG!!! Then, as usual… I managed to think, to say calm down…think! It didn’t work. I began to Google --“good reasons for child labor.” (I know, pretty bizarre, but it’s what 6 years in the “Think Tank” has taught me to do.)

This is what I found. “Gap Admits Possible Child Labor Problem” (ABC WORLD NEWS, London, Oct. 28 2007)…10 to 13 year olds working as “virtual slaves in filthy conditions, with a single, backed-up latrine and bowls of rice covered with flies. They slept on the roof.”

This is what I found: “Bitter Harvest: Child Labor in the Cocoa Supply Chain” (Jantizi Sustainalytics, June 2010, by Lotte Griek). “Thousands of children in Western Africa are trafficked and forced to work on cocoa plantations.”

This is what I found: “Nike Shoes and Child Labor in Pakistan” (www.1american.edu/ted/nike.htm) . “If “beaten workers” and “child labor” get added to their list, then Nike’s greatest asset will be abused children.” At this point I thought I knew what I thought. But then:

This is what I found. “What Happens When at Work”, SarahAlam, (www.learn.org.au/clp/archive/write92.htm.) “Above all the child (11 years old) was beaten badly at home. When her step brothers’ behavior and attitude became unbearable, she ran away from her house, she took a train from Lahor to Karachi, she had some money, which she had managed to earn. She was admitted in Edhi Home where hundreds of children are admitted daily throughout the country due to the same reasons or reasons similar to them. When someone asked the girl, does she want to go back to her house…she says, I know they will never come for they don’t love me?”

Then, this is what I found. (TED Case Studies) “But why is it unconscionable for a poor country to allow child labor? Pakistan has a per-capita income of $1,900 per year – meaning that the typical person subsists on barely $5 per day. Is it a revelation -or a crime - that some parents willingly send their children off to work in a factory to survive?

Then, this is what I found. “The Chinese Sex Bomb” (http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Chinese-Sex-Bomb-64719-shtml) “….by 2020 there will 37 million more Chinese men than women…undesired girls were commonly abandoned...in societies that practice genocide, young women are treated even less humanely as they become scarcer.”

So that’s when I thought…I can’t hate Steven Jobs, nor the GAP stock holders, nor the Nike consumers, or the chocolate eaters. I can only force myself to hold up a very blunt mirror, mirror on the wall. The mirror says, Garland the answer is as simple as rain. Throw away the Ipod, Iphone, Nano, Apple laptop, your daughter’s GAP clothes, your wife’s NIKE shoes and all three of you stop eating any kind of chocolate…and try not to think about what happens to the corporate-abused children who are sent home to be parent-abused-children.

Is Garland who we thought he was? Railing against Freeport then taking a lucrative job with them as hush money. And yes, had friends that worked there. You did a bit of work at the beginning then after a few months........just getting a paycheck. Is Garland who we thought he was? Fred Heebe and River Birch. No need to say more. You have ZERO credibility Mr. Garlando. But hey, I don't want to think about it anymore. But, at least...I don't hate Garland. We just laught at you now.

11/10/2011 9:54AM

It's time

I think it's time ... to move into the mountains, live off the land, drink the clean, safe water and raise and harvest our own food ...

11/10/2011 10:10AM

And.... what?

I don't think Jobs or anyone else at Apple ever claimed to be some kind of goliath creator of American jobs. Apple is in fact no different than any other corporation in America or elsewhere: intensely focused on the bottom line. Nobody should be surprised that this means manufacturing overseas.
And Jobs' aggressive, domineering management style was no secret either. In fact, he was famous for it - and for getting results with it. So, don't flatter yourself that you've uncovered some secret from under a rock, Garland.
I really don't see the point of your rambling "essay".

11/10/2011 10:11AM

Wha, Wha, What?

Every time I read one of Garlands rants I end up scratching my head. I just dont get the logic or the point of what he is saying. Its like a pretzel-logic stream of conscience diatribe. Is he pointing out that electronics and other goods are made more cheaply overseas, which most people already know? Or that child labor is bad, which most people would agree? Or that Steve Jobs was not the nicest guy at times, which is now know because of the new biography written about him? I dont think Im the smartest guy in the room but I now dumber for wasting my time reading this blather.

11/10/2011 10:38AM

Duh

Duh!!

11/10/2011 10:44AM

GARLAND THE POMPOUS

I LISTEN TO GARLAND AT WORK, BECAUSE WWL IS THE ONLY STATION THAT STREAMS INTO MY LOCATION. YOU SOMETIMES SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT RANTING AND RAVING LIKE A CRAZY MAN. HOW ANYBODY COULD LIKE YOUR PROGRAM IS BEYOND MYCOMPREHENSION.THE OTHER TALK SHOW HOSTS ON WWL ARE EXTREMELY NICE. GARLAND YOU ARE WAY IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. HOWEVER UNTIL I READ THIS ARTICLE I DID NOT KNOW THAT FREEPORT HAD PAID YOU OFF.

11/10/2011 10:49AM

Bully Pulpit

Apparently if you give a man a microphone, he will interpret that to mean that you think he has something important to say.
Garland, as the saying goes:
Sometimes it is better to remain silent and let people think you are ignorant, rather than open your mouth and prove it.

11/10/2011 10:49AM

can't proove he didn't

Let’s not forget how Mr. Jobs loved eating dolphin steaks that were cooked slowly over burning tires and Styrofoam. Can’t prove he didn’t.

11/10/2011 10:58AM

WHAT IS THE TRUTH....

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE...IT IS NOT MEANT FOR MAN TO DIRECT HIS OWN STEPS..MAN CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THIS WORLD IS FACING NO MATTER THIER BEST OF INTENTIONS...JOBS, STARVATION,MURDERS,WARS,STRIFE,SICKNESS AND DEATH JUST TO NAME A FEW...WHAT IT THE TRUTH...SEARCH FOR IT...THE ONLY TRUE GOD CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE INJUSTICES OF THIS WORLD...NO ONE ELSE CAN DO IT, ITS AS SIMPLE AS THAT..ITS TIME TO WAKE UP AND TAKE NOTICE OF THE TOTAL CONDITIONS OF THIS EARTH...ARE THESE THE LAST DAYS..YES THEY ARE...THE STORM IS ON THE HORIZON PEOPLE...WHERE IS THE TRUTH..ITS IN A BOOK CALLED THE BIBLE..GODS WORD AND NOT MANS...TRY READING (MATTHEW 24)..AND FIND THE CONDITIONS OF THIS EARTH TODAY AND THEM TELL ME THE STORM ON THE HORIZON IS NOT SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS...THIS IS THE TRUTH...

11/10/2011 11:20AM

WHAT IS THE TRUTH.... part 2

The new iPad has an app to help with that(tested on puppies,"for her pleasure")

11/10/2011 11:23AM

I don't get it

What are you talking about Garland? I swear, I don't know how you have a show discussing topics of the day. I'm sorry but I just find this whatever you want it call it up above to be unintelligently presented and completely lacking in point.

11/10/2011 11:33AM

ya figured it out

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! you figured out how to use google to fluff up a pointless blog and to waste my time. WAY TO MULTI-TASK!!!

11/10/2011 11:39AM

Answer to "It's Time"

I did it. Moved to the Blue Ridge Mtns.

11/10/2011 11:40AM

First time I've read or paid any attention to Garland for a few years

Last time for years.

11/10/2011 11:46AM

34,000 employees just in Cupertino, Ca, right outside of Palo Alto, Ca. alone

Apple has a huge campus of buildings in Cupertino. Why don't you go after Walmart for the thousands of Items that they carry and that are made in sweat shops etc, all over the world. I am beginning to get disgusted by almost all of the talk shows on WWL,they jump on what ever band wagon. Garland, Spud, Scoot, Tommy Tucker... You guys make Deke and Bobby sound like geniuses.

11/10/2011 12:34PM

THIS JUST IN!

People are motivated by self-interest. Shocker!

11/10/2011 12:40PM

ruffled feathers

Garland i believe you may have ruffled some feathers, good we need more feather ruffling! the absolute exploitation of people to produce goods that we DON'T NEED is really a sorry state of people who care not (unless its them)about the inhumanity behind corporatism. it's easy to forget who is behind the production of these "electronic toys" and gadgets that people love to play with(and annoy with)and to most ipads,phones etc.although useful tools, have become for many what the security blanket has become for Linus of peanut fame. we live in a society where a woman can "forget" her child and leave him/her in a hot car, but I'll bet she nor anyone else forgot to leave her Iphone in the hot car! IDIOTS!

11/10/2011 12:40PM

Garland

Interesting that such a hypocrite as Garland Robinette would ask such a question. Garland, you are not whom you profess to be. Take any bribes lately?

11/10/2011 1:35PM

Garland & Angela

You 2 should get back together you deserve one another.

11/10/2011 2:29PM

Garland

It amazes me that you still have this forum to do such idiot things!

11/10/2011 3:44PM

C'mon WWL ... seriously?

Garland must have a picture of some suit at WWL in bed with a live boy or dead girl. I mean, seriously, come on WWL, this "opinion" or whatever you want to call it is just plain stupid. What does Steve Jobs have to do with 95% of the article or if he's who we thought he was? I thought he was the guy behind Apple, that's who I thought he was. What does that have to do with Nike, or Gap, or more Chinese men than woman? Are there any openings for another talk show host? I have an idiot brother-in-law who would be perfect for the job.

11/10/2011 5:08PM

We have no one to blame but oursevles!

We created the problem, the american consumer. We want more and more for less and less! Just think about that!!!

11/10/2011 6:39PM

I guess you got what you set out to do. THE THINK TANK

You have so many people in an up roar. Yes they are thinking!If they are writing this much over this 1 article on Steven Jobs you made your point. Think people a little beyond your comfort zone.
Thanks Garland.

11/10/2011 7:36PM

And...

the point of this diatribe was???

11/10/2011 10:17PM

Surprising, unprofessional attacks

I'm surprised at the number of unprofessional personal attacks here. INCLUDING PEOPLE TOO IGNORANT TO USE LOWER CASE AS NECESSARY.

11/11/2011 9:05AM

Strange article.

I'm not sure if I'm reading his blog correctly but he seems to be saying it's no big deal that there are children in other countries making products sold in America. So Apple is an American company in name only. Multinational corporations such as Apple have no allegiance to any nation-only to profit. So many are angered at the events that are transpiring at Penn State but Garland defends exploitation of children in third world countries so Americans companies can keep healthier bottom lines?

11/11/2011 9:07AM

Strange article.

I'm not sure if I'm reading his blog correctly but he seems to be saying it's no big deal that there are children in other countries making products sold in America. So Apple, like so many other corporate giants, is an American company in name only. Multinational corporations such as Apple have no allegiance to any nation-only to profit. So many are angered at the events that are transpiring at Penn State but Garland defends exploitation of children in third world countries so Americans companies can keep healthier bottom lines?

11/11/2011 9:43AM

The Point Was This:

The point--like most of Garland's writings--is that we Americans may say we're against some of the most vile things in this world, but when they're out of sight/out of mind, we really don't care. Actions speak louder than words and we're the lamest society at showing any commitment to forcing change within corporate policies. Just give us our sausage--don't tell us how it was made.

just how often Garland reminds us just how uneducated he is...it's shows in this blog!

11/11/2011 1:47PM

Just a thought.

I don't know whether Garland is saying; "if we think of more people like Steve Jobs as Americans rather than Syrians, we can stock shelves at Walmart with more American products." Or if he's saying "we need to tweek federaltaxes and regulations on foreign products." Either way, I'm having trouble finding a hole in his inquisition.

11/11/2011 2:07PM

Garland

The recent events at Penn State echo you're sentiment. People should not be blindly worshiped. Praise the good deeds and condemn the atrocities. We are all human in the end

11/11/2011 8:11PM

Silliness

You people commenting are ignorant. Were your toes stepped on? You can't live without your stupid touch screens no more than Garland can.One of you should do the show. Garland never claimed and professed to be uneducated.Education goes far beyond Tulane.

11/12/2011 11:46AM

I'm not as smart

I guess I am not as smart as the people who posted the reasoning and greater meaning of this blog because to me it reads like a rambling, scattered thought process and I just don't get it.

11/13/2011 10:06AM

and if you were speaking english??

typical liberal---- --- "women, children and minoroties, hit hardest" type diatribe--- what awaste of time garland---time for you to go fishing--you can tell the liberal politics of democrats in the city of new orleans for the past 60 yrs-- have devoured Garland, the Robinette

11/22/2011 10:46AM

we have met the enemy and it is us

Thanks for always making us THINK, Garland!

01/11/2012 8:07PM

Oh it akes more han tha sophmoric grose to get folks to think.

Garland people are thinking. They think you were a chump to vote for Obama. Hug a tree attitude.
Can any people born after 1950 realize that slavery was a means to economic prosperity. Trade was the reason for the fight between the states. People seem to turn history according to how they want it to be.

02/06/2012 3:52PM

Is anyone really who they think they are?

Who are we really? An identity assigned at birth who grows up to be the sum total of our beliefs about ourselves and our world as taught to us by our teachers and our experiences in our own virtual reality environment?
Think about it for a moment.
Even science, with all its intellectual pride can't define the .01 % energy they call mass, nor the 99.9% energetic field they call empty space which basically constitutes 100% of that which we are or appear to be.
So if we can't define 100% percent of what we are, then we must be pretenders pretending to be something that we are not. How does a pretender judge another pretender?